Omaha daily bee., 1887-06-29
Installing n Pastor,

HE installation of Rev Stephen Phelps,
Do, as pastor of the Presbyterian
church, took place last evening. The
thunder shower came up at an unfor-
tunate time, just as the bells were ring
ing for the service. On this account the
audience was not so large as it would
otherwise have been. The church was
beautifully decorated with plants, vines
beautiful double star of cut flowers, the
center of red, the border of white, stood
by the pulpit.
The preliminary services consisted ora
business meeting OF the presbytery, al
which the record was made complete, the
transfer of DR.. Phelps from the Cedar
Rapids presbytery being accepted, his
call to this church read, and his accept.
ance.
After these preliminaries the services
of installation followed. Rev. Mr.. Cas-
sett, of Emerson, presided. Rev. Mr..
Smith, of Clarinda. offered a very tender
and appropriate prayer. Rev. Mr.. McAfee,
of Corning, read portions of scripture,
Miss Barbara Merkel sang sweet solo.
Rev. w. McAfee delivered clear anu
forcible sermon. His text was, Jesus
said unto them, Follow Me and L will
make you fishers of men," He spoke
of the authority with which Christ spoke
Then the call was personal one. 1t
was a command not to live in accord
ance with some code of moral ethics, but
to follow living leader. The commant
was to follow Christ like life. "Hl
| that hath not the Son hath not life.
An obedience to the command demandeG
sacrifice. The fishermen had to leave
their nets The gospel of love was thc
| fruit Of sacrifice, and demanded sacrl
flee. No good thing was to be obtaine.
except hy sacrifice The call for sacri.
flee was, however, to bring men into :
higher ministry. If the nets had to b;
left it was that they might become fish
ers of men, nobler sphere OF useful
ness. Cicero said that men became
most like gods when doing good eSfa to the,r
fellows Human on9% philanthropy n1t no1ie as
with the mission of winning souls. To
save soul was greater than to conquer
| a world. Christ also provides for the tit
ness of those called to this noble minis.
| try. II will make you fishers Of men. y
He would supply the deficiencies: If
those who were trying to follow Chris
were not soul winners. it was because OF
| to everyone.
Rev. L. f. Smith. of Clarinda, then d.
livered the charge to the pastor. 1t wss
excellent, and despite the solemnlty &
the duty, it was bright and not without
tinge of sprightiness. He urged tn,
new pastor to preach the Word. y
Christ was the beginning and the end OF
the word. Besides this trust. there was
the trust of caring for the flock of which
he was the shepherd. Hls personal life
must be an example, yet he need not be
gloomy. Life was not all tragedy, nor
was it farce. He should realize the
Importance of this point in the field. He
and his church should be in close rela-
tionship with the church at large.
Rev. MIR. Cassett delivered the charge
to the congregation. He said he did not
feel called upon to instruct them. as te
their duties, but to remind them OF these
and stir them to greater action. He
grouped their duties into three classes
support, encouragement cooperation
The salary should be paid, and promptly
1t was not charity, but legal anC
moral obligation. The people should
give moral as. we'll as financial support
There should be regularity in attending
church. The people should not let tht
pastor do all the work because of his be
ing o leader. They should work will
HIM.